15.09.2024.
Have you ever felt discomfort in a deserted bus stop, an old garage, or a waiting room because they lack their usual purpose? Perhaps you picture empty city streets, deserted gyms, or vacant schools from the pandemic. Things have changed. Everything feels different. Surreal. On the path of transformation.
Researchers in psychology relate this concept of space to physical (such as menopause or puberty), physiological, and psychological transition zones or thresholds. It’s the territory between your starting point and your destination. These thresholds of uncertainty and change are crucial for personal growth and resilience.
A liminal space can serve as a transitional phase between your “old self” and the person you are becoming (or want to become). Life often involves a process of becoming, which includes acquiring new skills, experimenting, and making mistakes.
Just as you might feel disoriented and uncertain at an airport or train station—needing to find the right platform or departure gate—in a psychological sense, this temporary phase builds a bridge from where you were to where you are headed, mentally or physically. You are neither fully present nor completely absent.
While people are accustomed to operating within familiar territories, a liminal space offers the potential for achievements such as:
- Acquiring new knowledge or refining existing skills.
- Starting a new hobby or taking a break from studies or a routine job.
- Ending toxic relationships or learning to set personal boundaries.
- Learning to overcome loss and discovering new values in life.
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